Update on Feb 22: Caught a mild cold but too fuzzy headed to post

I picked up a mild cold which started on Thursday, but I was so fuzzy headed that the thought of reading the Bible felt too much. Feeling so much better today and I am 80% back to health, so I will get caught up on the daily Bible readings I missed. 

Day 49 Bible Readings – Mark 4: 21-23 (ESV)

Exodus 23 & 24, Mark 3: 31-35, Mark 4: 1-29, Psalm 31: 9-18

Mark 4: 21-23 (ESV)

“And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

In verses 21 through 23 from Mark 4, Jesus tells his disciples that the truth of God is like a light and that light is meant to shine and not be hidden away. Jesus talks about truth and light in common sense examples. You would not buy a light and put it under a basket, or under a bed. You would put the light on a stand so it can reveal what is in the darkness. Jesus then says that the truth of God cannot be hidden, it must be revealed. The truth of God is not a secret and must be revealed. I read a Bible commentary on these verses, and the writer commented that if you understand the word of God then it is your responsibility to spread the truth of God if God presents you with the opportunity. Jesus is telling us we cannot hide the truth of God if we have the ears to hear  and discern that truth. It’s like Jesus is saying to his disciples, you are obligated to spread the truth of God if you can discern it. I was struck by this interpretation because I never thought of Jesus obligating people who believe in him to spread his truth. Perhaps that is why the Holy Spirit inspired me to write on my blog daily what Bible verses stood out to me in my daily Bible readings, so in my small way I am doing as Jesus commanded and spreading his light to the world.  

Day 48 Bible Readings – Psalm 31: 7-8 (ESV)

Exodus 21 & 22, Mark 2: 18-28, Mark 3: 1-30, Psalm 31: 1-8

Psalm 31: 7-8 (ESV)

“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.”

Of all the Bible readings for today, verses 7 and 8 from Psalm 31 brought tears to my eyes. I often think that God knows me better than anyone knows me, better than I know even know myself. I know that God has seen the troubles in my life because he has always helped me get through them. I know that God has seen the distress of my soul because I know I can count on God to send me healing love when I am in any kind of distress. And I definitely know that God has always taken care of me and never delivered me into the hand of my enemies because no matter what happened in my life, I always seem to end up in a better place.

Day 47 Bible Readings – Mark 2: 16-17 (ESV)

Exodus 19 & 20, Mark 1: 29-45, Mark 2: 1-17, Psalm 30: 8-12

Mark 2: 16-17 (ESV)

“And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In verses 16 and 17 from Mark 2, Jesus tells the scribes the Pharisees that he eats with tax collectors and sinners because he came to be with the sinners who are sick and not with those who have no need of a physician. I love this line from Jesus. I always think of Jesus as so amazing and when I read the stories of his disciples and other people of faith, I think of them as amazing people as well. These verses remind me that Jesus didn’t come for the amazing people. He came for the sinners. He came to redeem people from their sins, and he is the greatest doctor to heal us from our sins. But the words of Jesus also remind that he loves me exactly for who I am sins and warts and all. That I don’t have to be an amazing person but maybe with God’s help and if it’s part of his plan for my life, I will become an amazing person and follower of Jesus Christ.